Survey Finds Fake Profiles Shake Dating App Trust

A Harris Poll survey of U.S. singles commissioned by World found widespread doubts about whether online dating matches are real.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Romance

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a pale cream paper mask resting on a warm ochre surface, with one eyehole open against a plain background. — Nearly three-quarters of U.S. online daters have questioned whether a match was real, a Harris Poll survey commissioned by World found in November 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you be more likely to use a dating app if every profile were verified as real?

A Harris Poll survey of 892 U.S. single adults, conducted August 20-21, 2026 and commissioned by World, found that 74% of online daters had questioned whether a match was real. Fifty-seven percent of singles said fake or deceptive profiles were one of the biggest problems on dating apps.

Why it matters

The findings point to widespread distrust in dating app profiles among singles across the country. World, which promotes identity verification through its World ID product, has a commercial interest in the issue, which is relevant context for the results.

The figures come from an online survey of 892 U.S. single adults, including 649 dating app users, with a credible interval of ±3.6 percentage points at 95% confidence. The survey captures perceptions rather than verified counts of fake profiles, and no New York-specific results were published.

The players

The Harris Poll

A market research and polling firm that conducted the online survey of U.S. single adults.

World

A company that promotes technology to verify internet users are real people and commissioned the survey.

The details

Harris conducted the online survey August 20-21, 2026, and World published its report on November 2, 2026. Respondents reported questioning matches and encountering deceptive profiles, and 81% said verified profiles would make them more likely to use an app.

August 20-21, 2026: The Harris Poll conducted the online survey of U.S. singles.
November 2, 2026: World published its report on the survey findings.
November 5, 2026: The Harris Poll highlighted the findings in its newsletter.

Romance Landscape

The survey's findings align with World's push for identity verification through World ID, which the company positions as a way to confirm users are real people. The result is a dating market where verification itself is becoming a selling point for apps.

For singles using dating apps, the survey suggests that profile verification may become a factor in choosing which platforms to use. Readers who rely on apps can look for verification features when deciding where to create a profile.

The takeaway

Verified profiles appear to be a meaningful concern for singles, so checking whether an app offers identity verification may help you navigate online dating with more confidence.